Newbie Animator

[Cathral]

My nephew (11 yrs old) is interested in animation and I am looking for christmas present ideas with that in mind.

Anyone got any experience with animation that can give some suggestions? All I have found so far is The Animation Bundle so all help appreciated.

 

[Aciiid]

I'd actually recommend using blender, it's free too.

It'll certainly teach him the basics of animation, although blender can do so much more so he may have to go through some boring building your character stuff first in the online tutorial.

There's a program called 'make human' with human models already done that you can then put a bone structure in and rig etc, but being sad they've added the naughty bits so I can't recommend it without maybe you doing it and exporting just the torso or something.

Sky is the limit for cost of actual software (3dstudio max etc.) to make models so it may be best to get him started on something free and go from there.

Maybe buy him a 3d printer so he can print his models?